Tie bars for spacing curb forms



Aug.. 16, 1960- F. ToRRELLl TIR BARS RoR sPAcING CURB FORMS Filed July 5, 1955 A T TOP/VEYS' TE BARSFOR SPACING Cv FORMS Tortelli, 40 Arthur St., Cheektowaga, NX. `Filed July s, 1955, ser. No. '519,699

2 Claims. (Cl. 25-4118) This invention relates to tie bars for spacing the forms or molds used in the construction of poured concrete curbs.

'I he particular object of the invention is to provide tie bars, yfoi-spacing the forms for poured concrete curbs whichi are'easily applied, securely hold the forms togetlierl and are easily removed from the forms when the ceneretel curb as set.

Other" objects vand advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description and drawings in which:

Figfl isfa transverse, sectional view through an assembledeurb" form including the tie bars of the present invention. j'

Figf'Z is a fragmentary top plan view of the form as sembledas shown in Fig. 1.

"EigfS is Ial fragmentary, front elevational view of the curb Yforni assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figf4 is a perspective view of the tie used to fasten they stakes at a fixed distance with reference to each other Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the wedge pin used in conjunction with the tie shown in Fig. 6.

The concrete form illustrated is designed for use in the construction of curbs for streets, roads and the like. Theform'sections compose a mold adapted to be staked toF/they'ground :and having an open bottom and top. The two "sides ofthe curb are molded by form sections which are designed to be joined end to end to produce a curb of'the desired length. Each section of the form cornprisesv as principal elements three rails, which are preferablysheet -steel/channel members. In each form section, tlieiear'face of the curb, i.e., 'the side remote from the r street, is molded against a single upright horizontalllrail '20.l On'the front, each section of the form comprises'alower horizontal rail 2l that is alsoprefer-Y ght` and an upper horizontal rail 22 which rests on'th ail 21A and is preferably inclined rearwardly` ar or back rail 20 comprises a web 23 having longitudinal top and bottornvflanges 24 and 25, respectively. The outer edge of each of the ilangesl is preferably turnedvertically and. inwardly as shown at 26 and 27.*'t'o provide additional strength and rigidity for ther channelV member 20 and anrend block 31 is secured, by suitable means such as welding, within the channels fonaedbetween theV inturned edges 26V and 27 of the flanges 24'a`nd 25 and the web 23 at one end of each of the railsL 2t).l Each of the blocks 31 has a portion projecting longitudinally from the corresponding end` ofv thek rail 20,'the outer end of the projecting portion being beveled so, as to be pointed, as indicated at 32, thereby tofracilitate the insertion of this block into the end of another` mating rail member 20.

Eachof the lower front channel members or rails 21 can`be of similar construction to the back rail 2d, having a 'web42 and longitudinal top and bottom outwardly projecting lateral ilanges 43 and 44. The edges 46 and 47, "respectively, of the'flanges 43 and 44 are turned in* wardlyandpreferably aline with each other parallel to theweb, 4,2. Eachoflthe rails is also provided at one,

2,948,943 Patented Aug.j16, 19eo 2 end with an end block 48 similar to the block 31, the outwardly -extending portion of each block 48 being also pointed, asA indicated at 49, to facilitate insertion of this block into the next succeeding mating rail 21.

A bracket or clip, indicated at 52, is shown for receiving the stakes 54, these stakes being driven into the ground and cooperating with similar stakes 54 at the back of the form both to hold the form reliably positioned on the ground and also to hold the sections of the forms in assembled Yand properly spaced relation to one another. `Each stake bracket or clip 52 is secured to the end of the rail 21 opposite its block 4S and within the channel provided by the web 42 and the anges 43 and 44. It consists of an L-shaped bracket having a leg 55` which projects outwardly, from thek web 42 and a leg or flat ringer 5,6, extending from the outer edge of the leg 52 in a direction generally parallel with the webV 42. The bracket is provided with an attaching ange 57 which can be secured, as by welding, to the front or channel face ofthe web 42. The leg or iiat finger 56 of the stake attaching bracket or clip 52 is set outwardly from the vertical plane of the` anges 46 and 47 such" distance that eachl stake 5'4 can be driven downwardly and haveV one of its sides engaging the lianges 46, 47 and its opposite side engaging the leg or flat finger 56 of the bracket or clip` 5,2. This t is preferably quite snug, in fact, it is desirable that the bracket 52 be sprung outwardly slightly to accommodate the stake and for this purpose, the outer vertical extremity of the leg or flat linger 56 islpreferably provided with an outwardly curving lip 58,

The front surfacek of the concrete curb, according to the present invention, is also preferably formed with ya rearwardly inclined top portion. TheV mold for this portion` of*l thefront surface is provided by the upper front channel members or rails 22, each of which is of generally similar'form vto the rails 2@ and 21 and has a a block weldedin oney of its ends and each block 65 has apointed end 6 6` projecting outwardly from its railk 22 andto be insertedinto the end of a succeeding mating rail 22.,A The bottornsof the channel members4 or rails 22 rest von the topsof. the Vlower front rails 21 and the rails 22 areQsuppforted in the desired inclined position byfa divisionfandl spacing plates 68 which are placed transverselyY between the front and rear channels or rails at regular intervals.

Each of theV division plates k68 is preferably formed of sheet metal of substantial thickness so as to be stiff and resist bending andthe main portion` of each plate is shapedas a rectangle with the upper front edge being inclinedv as best shownfatf69, at the angle desired for the inclined top, ofthe curb. The length and width of the division plate are nthe same as the height and thickness, respectively, ofthe. concrete curb which is to be constructed. Atab ory ear A"ill can be formed at the top of each of the division platesv678 and is shown as provided withra hole 71. Each ofthe division plates 68 can` also bev provided on the uppery rear edge thereof with a block 72 of substantial size which projects rearwardly from the plate and is adapted to rest on the upper flange 24 lof the rear` rail 20 to hold the division plate in proper position. The blocks 72 are preferably rigidly attached, as byk welding, to the upper edges of the division plates 68.

The rails 20, 21 are held against the rear and front sides of the division plates 68 by ties constructed as best tion, these ties also holding each companionpair of stakes 54 against spreading or other displacement. Each of these ties, indicated generally at 75, is in the form of a rigid metal strap 77 having one end reversely bent to provide an end hook 76, this hook being of a size to embrace the corresponding stake 54, the latter being shown as being round in cross section. TheV opposite end of each strap 77 is bent laterally to provide a flange 78 which extends from the same side of the strap 77 as the hook 76. Each strap also has welded thereto an L-shaped bracket 79, this bracket having a leg 80 which is arranged in parallel spaced relation to the flange 78. The spacing of the leg Sil from the flange 78 is approximately equal -to the thickness of each stake 54 and the flange 78 and leg 80 are provided with alining holes 81 and 82, respectively. These holes are arranged to receive a tapered pin or nail 83. The tapered shank 84 of this pin enters the holes 81, 82 and forms a wedge or cam for wedging or camming the corresponding stake 54 against the back of the tie 75, To facilitate removal, the pin or nail is provided with a head 86.

The upper front channel members or rails 22, the flat webs 60 which form the inclined upper surface of the curb front, are held in position against the inclined front edge portions 169 of the division plates 68 by metal U- clamps 85. Each clamp is made in the form of a rigid metal strap and comprises a horizontal cross part 87, a depending vertical rear leg 88 and a downwardly and forwardly inclined front leg 89. The lower extremity of the front leg 89 terminates in a reversely bent or hooked portion 90 which nclines downwardly and rearwardly, that is, downwardly and toward the rear leg 88. This rear leg 88 is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the cross part 87 while the other leg 89 extends from the cross part 87 at an obtuse angle which is preferably generally the same as the angle to the horizontal formed by the inclined edge portion 69 of each of the plates 80.

In erecting or setting up curb forms as above described, the following procedure has been found convenient although other sequences `of steps may be used.

'A rear channel member or rail 20 and a lower, front channel member or rail 21 are placed on edge on the graded ground in upright spaced relation and division plates 68 are placed between them at suitable intervals with the blocks 72 thereof resting on the top of the rail 20. Pairs of stakes 54 are then driven into the ground along the outer sides of the front and rear rails 20 and 21. Each front stake is driven downwardly .in contact with the flanges 46 and 47 of the lower front rail 21 and also in contact wtih the inner face of the leg or flat linger 56 of the stake bracket 52 welded to one end of the lower front rail 21. Each rear stake 54 is driven to aline with its companion front stake 54 and `is driven downwardly in contact with the flanges 26 and 27 of the corresponding back rail 20.

Each pair of stakes is then connected and alined with a tie 75. This connection is quickly effected by hooking the hooked end 76 of the tie over one of these stakes and then swinging the tie horizontally to place the companion stake 54 between the flange 78 and the leg 80 of the bracket 79. Each tie is then latched by driving the wedge shank of the pin or nail shown in Fig. 5 through the holes 81, 82 so as to confine the corresponding stake 54 in the hook provided by the flange 78 and leg 80. Any irregularity in driving the stakes is overcome by the requirement that the front stake 54 be in contact with the flanges 46 and 47 of the lower front rails, this being assured by the stake bracket 52, and by the requirement that the upper end of the rear stake 54 be in contact with the flanges 26 and 27 and also in proper position with reference to the companion front stake 54, this being assured by the tie 75.

`The upper front rails 22 are then placed on top of the lower front rails 21 and are laid back so as to engage with the inclined edges 69 of the division plates 68.

A wooden block 92 is then placed against the rear face of the web 23 of the rear rail 20 in line with the division plate 68 and the rear leg 88 of a U-clamp 85 is placed against the inner face of the block. The front leg 89 of this U-clamp is then stressed forwardly and the U- clamp pushed down. When thel hooked end 90 of the front leg passes below the flange 46 of the lower front rail 21, the U-clamp is released so that this hook 90 hooks under this flange 46, as best shown in Fig. l, thereby to prevent the U-clamp from working its way upwardly due to its wedge shaped form and its inherent resiliency.

Concrete can then be poured in the mold provided by the assembled forms. When the concrete has taken its initial set, the U-clamps 85 can be removed to permit taking off the upper front rails 22 so that the upper front and top of the concrete curb can be brushed and smoothed or finished while the concrete is still fresh. After the concrete has set, the wedge pins or nails 54 can be withdrawn from the holes 8l, 82 whereupon the tie bars 76 can be swung horizontally with the hooks 76 as a l pivot, thereby to free the corresponding stake 54 from the flange 76 and leg 80 of each tie bar. Each tie bar l can then be moved longitudinally to free its hooks 76 from the opposite stake.

With the rear rail 26 still in position, a tool can be inserted in the hole 71 of each division plate 68 and the flange 24 of `the rail 20 used as a fulcrum to draw the division plate upwardly. Following this, the stakes 54 can be pulled and the rails 20, 21 and 22 stripped from the form. serve not only to space the rails 20, 21 and 22 of the forms, but also provide expansion joints at intervals along the length of the curb.

IFrom the foregoing, it will be seen that the tie 75 can"k readily be hooked by the hoo'ks 76 around the stake and then swung horizontally so as to receive a companion rear stake 54 and to hold this rear stake in firm engagement with the flanges 26 and 27 of the rear rail 20. It

will also be seen that the wedge pin shown in Fig. 5

insures that these ties 75 remain attached `to the stakes 54 until the ties are deliberately released by withdraw ing these pins.

ll claim: 1. In a curb form having side mold sections' spaced to form the sides of the curb from Portland cement p poured therebetween, pairs of stakes driven into the; ground on opposite sides of the curb form along the outer sides of said mold sections and projecting above said mold sections, and means connecting said mold sections to said stakes, the combination therewith of means for spacing the stakes of each pair at a predetermined distance from each yother and holding the stakes of each pair at such predetermined distance while said poured Portland cement is setting, comprising a metal strap having a generally straight body part, la horizontally y and reversely extending integral hook forming one end of said body toward the opposite end of said body and said hook fitting around the upper end of one of said stakes and to rotate aroundV said one of said stakes as v, a pivot in a horizontal plane, a pair of spaced flanges permanently fixed to and projecting laterally and Ihori-` zontally in the same direction from said opposite end of said body and spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to the thickness of said stakes, saidY v lianges being provided, at a distance from said body approximately equal to the thickness of said stakes, with v holes in horizontal alinement with each other along va line generally parallel with said body, and a pin extending through said holes and arranged to retain a stake from displacement from between said flanges, said flanges being spaced from said hook a distance approximatelyequalto said predetermined'distance whereby upon hooking said hook around one stake said body can be swung It will be noted that the division plates 68 5 in a horizontal plane to bring its flanges toward the companion stake can be brought between said anges to position the stakes at said `predetermined distance, said pin being thereafter insertable through said holes to retain said anges from displacement from said companion 5 stake.

2. A tie as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pin is of diminishing size in cross section toward one end to wedge the upper end of said companion stake against said body.

10 References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Heltzel July 8, 1919 Wolf Nov. 24, 1931 Pandol Feb. 14, 1933 Rosser Oct. 26, 1948 Tortelli Sept. 23, 1952 Findley Dec. 8, 1953 Lawler Sept. 14, 1954 Eandi July 26, 1955 De Boisblanc Aug. 16, 1957 Nagin June 18, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 4, 1909 Italy Feb. 25, 1948 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1929 

